Abrasive polisher



Jan. 7, 1964 A. BLOCK 5 ABRASIVE POLISHER Filed. Feb. 21. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORL ALEcK BLOCK E6. 3. ggae z zzg ATTORNEY Jan. 7, 1964 A. BLOCK 3,116,576

' ABRASIVE POLISHER Filed Feb. 21, 1961 2 Sheets-She et 2 53 4) 5/- INVENTOR. l ;=11 ALECK BL Whi M United States Patent Ofiice Eilhfilh Patented Jan. E 1954- 3,116,576 ABRASIVE PGLISHER Aleclr lllock, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Merrt Products, lino, Les Angeles, Calif a corporation of California Filed Feb. 21, 1961, Ser. No. 90,755 17 Claims. (ill. 51-1935) This invention relates to a rotatable abrasive polisher and discardable abrasive units therefor which are adapted for use in polishing the inside surfaces of tubes, cups and the like and for other abrasive and polishing purposes.

It is an object of my invention to provide a polisher of the type described which, in its preferred embodiment, utilizes a pair of discardable abrasive units, each of which carries a pair of packs of abrasive leaves so that four abrasive packs are brought into successive engagement with the workpiece during each rotation of the mandrel. The abrasive packs are so arranged that all of the abrasive material faces in the same direction so that none of the abrasive is wasted.

It is a further object of my invention to provide such a device in which the discardable abrasive units and mandrel are quickly and easily assembled and disassembled and are yet securely held together by an interlocking arrangement whereby each of the abrasive units is interlocked with the mandrel and the other abrasive units.

It is accordingly an object of my invention to provide an abrasive polisher and discardable abrasive units therefor having all of the advantages and benefits of the structure set forth above and described hereinafter. My inven tion also comprises such other objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and which are inherently possessed by my invention.

While I have shown in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of my invention, it should be understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, H6. 1 is a side elevational view of my abrasive polisher;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the same, taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the same;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 of an alternative embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded View of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of still another embodiment of my invention.

A preferred embodiment which has been selected to illustrate my invention comprises a mandrel ill, having a base 11, which is adapted to be suitably attached to a conventional source of rotation such as an electric motor. The mandrel 10 is provided with an elongated cylindrical shaft 12 of smaller diameter than the base 11. The shaft 12 is provided with a pair of elongated longitudinally directed slots 13 and 14, which extend diametrically through the shaft 12 and which are disposed at right angles to each other. The outer end of the shaft 12 is provided with external screw threading 15.

One of the discardable abrasive units comprises a center plate 16, which may be formed of metal, plastic, fiber, cardboard or any suitable substantially rigid material. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the center plate 16 comprises an elongated rectangle having an elongated slot 17 which extends along its longitudinal axis and which is directed inwardly from one end of the center plate 16 to its midportion.

An abrasive pack 18 comprises a plurality of superimposed oblong rectangular leaves, at least some of which carry abrasive material on one side thereof. The abrasive leaves may be formed of abrasive coated cloth or paper or other substantially flexible abrasive carrying material. The abrasive carrying sides of the leaves forming the pack 18 all face in the same direction. The pack 18 is secured to one side of the center plate 16 by one or more staples or stitches 19, which extend through the entire pack 18 and center plate 16. The stitches l9 compress the inner ends of the leaves forming the pack 18 securely together against the center plate 16. The abrasive pack 18 thus has greater rigidity than any of the individual leaves used in forming the pack.

A second abrasive pack 21 is formed in the same manner and is secured to the opposite side of the center plate 16 by one or more stitches 22. At least some of the leaves forming the pack 21 carry abrasive material on one side thereof, with the abrasive carrying sides all facing the same direction. The abrasive carrying sides of the packs l8 and 21 face in opposite directions. The abrasive preferably faces away from the center plate 16 so that the center plate to provides reinforcement for the abrasive packs 1% and 21 when they engage the workpiece.

The other discardable abrasive unit 23 is similarly formed and comprises a center plate 24- having an elongated slot 25 extending inwardly from its opposite end compared with the slot 17 of the abrasive unit 25 Two abrasive packs 26 and 27 are secured to the center plate 24 by stitches 28 and 29 respectively. The abrasive sides of the packs 26 and 27 face oppositely from each other.

My abrasive polisher is assembled by mounting the first abrasive unit Ztl so that its center plate 16 is dispose within one of the slots 13 and M in the shaft 12. The second abrasive unit 23 is then inserted in the other of the slots 13 and 1d. The slot 17 of the first abrasive unit 2i? receives and tits around the portion of the center plate 24 between the inner end of its slot 25 and the opposite end of the center plate 24. The slot 25 of the second abrasive unit 23 simultaneously fits around the portion of the center plate 16 between the inner end of its slot 17 and the opposite end of the center plate to.

The center plates 16 and 24 are thus securely interengaged with the shaft 12 and with each other. Since the slots 17 and 25 are half as long as the center plates 6 and 234-, the abrasive units 2t? and 2 3 are brought into longitudinal alignment with each other on the shaft 12. They are also disposed at right angles to each other so that the four abrasive packs are disposed apart from each other, with their abrasive portions all facing the same direction so that they are brought into successive engagement with a workpiece upon rotation of the mandrel ltl.

An internally screw threaded nut 35B is mounted on the screw threading 15 at the end of the shaft 12 to prevent separation of the abrasive units 2%) and 23 from the mandrel When the abrasive material has been consumed from one or both of the abrasive units Zil and 23, they can be quickly and easily removed from the mandrel ill, dis carded in their entirety and replaced with fresh abrasive units.

An alternative embodiment of my invention is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 or" the drawings. It comprises a mandrel all having a base 41 and shaft 42. The shaft i2 is provided with three equidistantly spaced intersecting radial slots 43. The outer end of the shaft 42 is provided with external screw threading 54 for removably receiving a nut 4-9.

Three discardable abrasive units are used with this embodiment of my invention. Each of the abrasive units 45 comprises a plate 46, which may be formed of metal, plastic, fiber, cardboard or any other suitable substantially rigid material. The free end of the plate 46 is provided with a bent portion 47, which extends at an angle with 3 respect to the plate 4-6, the angle corresponding to the angle of intersection of the slots 43 with each other. The other end of the plate carries an abrasive pack 43, which is formed in the same manner described above and which is attached to the plate by stitches 48a.

In use, the abrasive units are assembled in the manner shown in FIGS. 4- and 5 of the drawings, the slots 43 being suiiiciently wide to hold the straight portion of one of the plates and the bent portion 47 of another of the plates 56 directly adjacent to each other. The bent portions 47 of the plates 45 are thus interlocked with the shaft 42 to prevent separation of the abrasive units 45 from the mandrel during rotation.

Another embodiment of my invention is shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings. it comprises a shaft having a single diametrical slot 51. A rectangular plate 52 has a pair of abrasive packs 53 secured to its opposite ends by stitches 5d. The plate is inserted in the slot 51 and told therein by a screw or other suitable fastening means which extends transversely through the shaft 5% in the center of the plate 52. As the unit rotates, the abrasive packs 53 are brought into successive engagement with the workpiece.

With this or the other embodiments of my invention, the inner ends of the abrasive packs can be disposed directly adjacent to the shaft or they can be spaced outwardly from the shaft in order to minimize the wastage of abrasive material in polishing tubes having large bores.

I claim:

1. An abrasive polisher comprising a rotatable mandrel having an elongated cylindrical shaft, a pair of elongated longitudinal slots extending diametrically through said shaft at right angles to each other, said slots extending inwardly from the outer end of said shaft, the outer end of said shaft having external screw threading, a pair of abrasive units removably mounted in said slots, each of said abrasive units comprising a substantially rigid center plate having an open ended slot, 21 pair of abrasive packs having their inner ends secured to the opposite sides of each of said center plates, each of said packs comprising a plurality of superimposed leaves, at least some of said leaves carrying abrasive material on one side thereof, the abrasive carrying sides or" said leaves facing away from said center plate, the abrasive of one of said packs facing oppositely from the abrasive of the other pack of each unit, one of said center plates being mounted in one of said slots in said shaft and the other of said units being mounted in the other of said slots, the slot in each of said center plates fitting around and receiving the unslotted portion of the other of said center plates so that said abrasive units are aligned longitudinally on said shaft to provide four abrasive packs spaced 90 from each other with the abrasive carrying sides facing the same direction for successive presentation to a workpiece upon the rotation of said shaft, and a nut screw threadedly mounted on the outer end of said shaft to hold said abrasive units in position on said shaft.

2. The structure described in claim 1, each of said abrasive units being formed of discardable material so that said abrasive units may be discarded in their entirety upon consumption of the usable abrasive from said packs, each of said packs comprising a plurality of elongated rectangular substantially flexible abrasive leaves extending outwardly from said center plate, said leaves being secured to said center plate by at least one fastening membcr extending completely through said pack and center plate.

3. An abrasive polisher comprising a rotatable mandrel having an elongated shaft, a pair of elongated longitudinal slots extending diametrically through said shaft at right angles to each other, said slots extending inwardly from the outer end of said shaft, a pair of abrasive units removably mounted in said slots, each of said abrasive units comprising a substantially rigid center plate having an open ended slot, a pair of abrasive packs having their inner ends secured to the opposite sides of each of said center plates, each of said packs comprising a plurality of superimposed leaves, at least some of said leaves carrying abrasive material on one side thereof, the abrasive carrying sides of said leaves facing away from said center plate, the abrasive of one of said packs facing oppositely from the abrasive of the other pack of each unit, one of s, id center plates being mounted in one of said slots in said shaft and the other of said units being mounted in the other of said slots, the slot in each of said center plates fitting around and receiving the unslotted portion of the other of said center plates so that said abrasive units are aligned longitudinally on said shaft to provide four abrasive packs spaced from each other with the abrasive carrying sides facing the same direction for successive presentation to a workpiece upon the rotation of said shaft.

An abrasive polisher comprising a rotatable mandrel having an elongated shaft, a pair of elongated longitudinal slots extending diametrically through said shaft at right angles to each other, said slots extending inwardly from the outer end of said shaft, a pair of abrasive units removably mounted in said slots, each of said abrasive units comprising a substantially rigid center plate, a pair of abrasive packs having their inner ends secured to the opposite sides of each of said center plates, each of said packs comprising a plurality of superimposed leaves, at least some of said leaves carrying abrasive material on one side thereof, the abrasive carrying sides of said leaves facing away from said center plate, the abrasive of one of said packs facing oppositely from the abrasive of the other pack of each unit, one of said center plates being mounted in one of said slots in said shaft and the other of said units being mounted in the other of said slots to provide four abrasive packs spaced 90 from each other with the abrasive carrying sides facing the same direction for presentation to a workpiece upon the rotation of said shaft.

5. A discardable abrasive unit for use in a rotatable abnssive polishing device, said unit comprising an elongated rectangular center plate formed of substantially rigid material, a slot extending inwardly from one end of said center plate along the longitudinal axis thereof, the length of said slot being approximately one half the length of said center plate, a pair of abrasive packs secured to the opposite side edges of said center plate, each of said packs comprising a plurality of superimposed oblong rectangular substantially flexible leaves, at least some of said leaves carrying abrasive material on one side thereof, the abrasive carrying sides of both of said packs facing away from said center plate, the abrasive of one of said packs facing oppositely from the abrasive of the other of said packs, the longitudinal axes of said packs extending outwardly from the sides of said center plate, and at least one fastening member extending completely through each of said packs and the side of said center plate to compress the inner ends of said leaves against each other and against said center plate, said abrasive unit being formed entirely of discardable material adapted to be discarded in its entirety upon the consumption of the usable portion of the abrasive of said packs.

6. A discardable abrasive unit for use in a rotatable abrasive polishing device, said unit comprising a center plate formed of substantially rigid material, a slot extending inwardly from one end of said center plate along the longitudinal axis thereof, a pair of abrasive packs secured to the opposite sides of said center plate, each of said packs comprising a plurality of superimposed substantially flexible leaves, at least some of said leaves carrying abrasive material on one side thereof, the abrasive carrying sides of both of said packs facing away from said center plate, the abrasive of one of said packs facing oppositely from the abrasive of the other of said packs, said packs extending outwardly from the sides of said center plate, and at least one fastening member extending completely through each of said packs and the side of said center plate to compress the inner ends of said leaves against each other and against said center plate, said abrasive unit being formed entirely of discardable material and adapted to be discarded in its entirety upon the consumption of the usable portion of the abrasive of said packs.

7. A discardable abrasive unit for use in a rotatable abrasive polishing device, said unit comprising a center plate formed of substantially rigid material, a slot extending inwardly from one end of said center plate along the longitudinal axis thereof, a pair of abrasive packs secured to the opposite sides of said center plate, each of said packs comprising a plurality of superimposed substantially flexible leaves, at least some of said leaves carrying abrasive material on one side thereof, the abrasive carrying sides of both of said packs facing away from said center plate, the abrasive of one of said packs facing oppositely from the abrasive of the other of said packs, said packs extending outwardly from the sides of said center plate, said abrasive unit being formed entirely of discardable material and adapted to be discarded in its entirety upon the consumption of the usable portion of the abrasive of said packs.

8. An abrasive pclisher comprising a rotatable mandrel having an elongated shaft, a plurality of elongated longitudinal slots extending diametrically through said shaft, said slots extending inwardly from the outer end of said shaft, a plurality of abrasive units, one of said units being removably mounted in each of said slots, each of said units comprising a substantially rigid center plate, a pair of abrasive packs having their inner ends secured to the opposite sides of each of said center plates, each of said packs comprising a plurality of superimposed leaves, at least some of said leaves carrying abrasive material on one side thereof, the abrasive carrying sides of said leaves facing away from said center plate, the abrasive of one of the packs of each unit facing oppositely from the abrasive of the other pack of said unit, said units providing a plurality of spaced abrasive packs having their abrasive carrying sides facing the same direction upon the rotation of said mandrel.

9. The structure described in claim 8, each of said center plates having an open ended slot adapted to receive and lit around at least one of the other center plates, whereby said units and abrasive packs are aligned longitudinally with respect to said shaft.

10. An abrasive polisher comprising a rotatable mandrel having an elongated shafit, a plurality of elongated longitudinal slots extending radially through said shaft, said slots extending inwardly from the outer end of said shaft, a plurality of abrasive units removably mounted in said slots, each of said units comprising a substantially rigid plate, at least one abrasive pack secured to each of said plates, said pack comprising a plurality of superimposed leaves, at least some of said leaves carrying abrasive material on one side thereof, said units providing a plurality of spaced abrasive packs having their abrasive carrying sides facing the same direction upon the rotation of said mandrel.

11. An abrasive polisher comprising a rotatable mandrel having an elongated shaft, at least one elongated longitudinal slot extending through said shaft, said slot extending inwardly from the outer end of said shaft, at least one abrasive unit, said abrasive unit being removably mounted in said slot with opposite ends of the abrasive unit being disposed completely Within the slot, said unit comprising a substantially rigid plate With opposite ends of the plate being disposed completely within the slot and at least one abrasive pack secured to said plate at the outer end of the plate, said pack comprising a plurality of superimposed leaves, at least some of said leaves carrying abrasive material on one side thereof, and means disposed on the slotted end of the mandrel and outwardly from the substantially rigid plate for compressing the mandrel to maintain the plate in fixed position within the slot in the mandrel.

12. An abrasive polisher comprising a rotatable mandrel having an elongated shaft, three equidistantly spaced intersecting longitudinal slots extending radially through said shaft, said slots extending inwardly from the outer end of said shaft, three abrasive units, each of said units comprising a substantially rigid plate, one end of said plate having a bent portion extending at an angle corresponding to the angle of intersection of said slots, an abrasive pack secured to the opposite end of said plate, said abrasive pack comprising a plurality of superimposed leaves, at least some of said leaves carrying abrasive material on one side thereof, the width of said slots being substantially twice the width of said plates, said plates being removably mounted in said slots, with the bent portion of each plate being disposed in another slot from the remaining portion of said plate to prevent the radial sepanation of said abrasive units from said mandrel, the abrasive carrying sides of all of said abrasive packs facing in the same direction upon the rotation of said mandrel.

13. An abrasive polisher, including,

a mandrel rotatable on a particular axis,

the mandrel being slotted at one end in a direction corresponding to the particular axis to provide the mandrel with a compressive relationship in a direction substantially perpendicular to the particular axis,

an abrasive unit including a central plate disposed Within the slot in the mandrel with one end adjacent the slotted end of the mandrel, the central plate including at least one abrasive leaf attached to the plate at the radial end of the plate to provide an abrading action upon a notation of the mandrel, and

means fitting on the mandrel at the slotted position of the mandrel and at the end of the mandrel beyond the end of the central plate adjacent the slotted end of the mandrel for compressing the mandrel at the slotted position to retain the abrasive unit in fixed position relative to the mandrel.

14. An abrasive polisher, including,

a mandrel rotatable on a particular axis,

the mandrel being provided with first and second slots each extending along the particular axis of the mandrel and each disposed in annularly displaced relationship to each other to define a compressive portion of the mandrel at the slots,

first and second plates respectively disposed in the first and second slots in the mandrel in interlocked relationship to each other,

abrasive leaves attached to the first and second plates at the radial ends of the plates and extending beyond the mandrel to provide an abrading action, and

means disposed on the mandrel at the position of the slots to compress the mandrel for retaining the first and second plates in fixed relationship to the mandrel.

15. An abrasive polisher, including,

a mandrel rotatable on a particular axis,

there being first and second slots extending into the mandrel in an axial direction from a first end of the mandrel, the first and second slots being disposed in a' transverse relationship to each other in a plane substantially perpendicular to the particular axis,

first and second plates respectively disposed in the first and second slots in the mandrel and in interengaged relationship with each other,

a first plurality of abrasive leaves attached to the first plate at a position radially displaced from the mandrel to provide an abrading action,

a second plurality of abrasive leaves attached to the second plate at a position radially displaced from the mandrel to provide an abrading action, and

means disposed on the mandrel at the first end of the mandrel to compress the portion of the mandrel between the slots and to retain the first and second ing radially beyond the second plate to provide on plates in fixed position within the slots. abrasive action during the movement of the second 16. The abrasive Polisher set forth in claim 15, in l f ith th e o d l t d which means disposed in eo-operative relationship with the the first and second plates are slotted to facilitate the 5 d l to retain h fi t d sesond plates i fi d flier-Engaged relationship of ihe Plates Within the relationship to the mandrel for rotation with the slots in the mandrel. mandrel and to retain the first and second plates in 17. An abrasive olisher, including, inter-engaged relationship to each other.

a mandrel rotatable on a particular axis,

first plate, 10 References Cited in the file of this patent a second plate disposed in inter-engaged relationship UNITED STATES PATENTS with the first plate,

at least a first abrasive leaf supported on the first plate 912,085 Davls Ftib- 9, 1909 for movement with the first plate and extending ratdi- 1,168,849 Butlgl: 5911- 1915 ally beyond the first plate to provide an abrasive 15 2,313,257 Dl'astm P 13, 1943 action during the movement of the first leaf with 2,541,043 l A1331 the first p xl i 3 n g e liesen uy i,

a least a s cond abrasive leaf suppor ed on the s cond 2,771,720 Held Nov. 27 1956 plate for movement with the second plate and extend- 

10. AN ABRASIVE POLISHER COMPRISING A ROTATABLE MANDREL HAVING AN ELONGATED SHAFT, A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED LONGITUDINAL SLOTS EXTENDING RADIALLY THROUGH SAID SHAFT, SAID SLOTS EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM THE OUTER END OF SAID SHAFT, A PLURALITY OF ABRASIVE UNITS REMOVABLY MOUNTED IN SAID SLOTS, EACH OF SAID UNITS COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID PLATE, AT LEAST ONE ABRASIVE PACK SECURED TO EACH OF SAID PLATES, SAID PACK COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SUPERIMPOSED LEAVES, AT LEAST SOME OF SAID LEAVES CARRYING ABRASIVE MATERIAL ON ONE SIDE THEREOF, SAID UNITS PROVIDING A PLURALITY OF SPACED ABRASIVE PACKS HAVING THEIR ABRASIVE CARRYING SIDES FACING THE SAME DIRECTION UPON THE ROTATION OF SAID MANDREL. 